ANC will go back to the drawing board, says Ramaphosa after losing key metros
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the governing party will be heading back to the drawing board after losing all the key metros in Gauteng.
The African National Congress (ANC) suffered a major blow after the smaller political parties supported the DA in Gauteng - keeping the ruling party out in the cold.
Ramaphosa says the developments in councils across the province were an indication that the country’s democracy is fast maturing.
He made the comments at the Union Buildings in Pretoria during a state visit by Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday.
Ramaphosa urged political parties to ensure that service delivery is their focus.
“What is unfolding is how democracy works, this is the footsteps of democracy and we have seen it play out throughout the country, and indeed, as the president of the governing party, it is disappointing for the African National Congress but that is how we should accept the clear message of our people in the ANC.
"We have taken it, we have listened, this for us is a big setback but it is also a big lesson, and we are a party that learns quickly, and we are going to go to the drawing board, we are going to reflect on all these setbacks,” Ramaphosa told journalists.
He says elected leaders should prioritize stability in local government.
“As the president of the republic, I would like to see stability in our local government sector – that whatever coalitions are being formed will result in stable local government, that we do not have instability and collapse of local government, motions of no confidence, to a point where service delivery will not be given to the people of our country, so I will call on those who have emerged victorious to ensure that there is a stable government."
